"I have a surprise."  

Aera looked up from her work, not surprised to find Heeseung's father hovering over her desk. Ever since their talk, he'd almost been like another protective parent. He'd ask about Heeseung and complain about his son not taking his many calls. He would make sure she was alright and check to see that she'd eaten. He assured her that he approved of her like, twenty times a day. 

Still, he said that there wasn't much he could do about his wife. He had business to finish in Australia, so he couldn't stop her from being a menace in Korea. He said he'd tried talking to her about canceling Heeseung's marriage, only to be hung up on. She also wasn't answering his calls. 

Oddly enough, it felt like she'd made a friend. 

Heeseung didn't know about it though. He knew she'd met his father before, but didn't know how close they'd become. He didn't know that his father would jokingly call her his daughter, or how he'd sometimes ask when there would be a meeting of the families. 

Like Jiyeon had said, she just didn't want to get Heeseung's hopes up. She cared too much about him to see him hurt. 

"Is it an early lunch break?" Aera joked. "I'm starving." 

Mr.Lee gave her a stern look, but it was only for a moment before his face broke out into a smile. "I'm sending you home early." 

She shot to her feet. "What?" she said, a little too loudly. Everyone in the office suddenly turned to face the two of them. 

He grinned at her. "Go pack. Your flight leaves tonight." 

Aera stared at him, unable to put what she was feeling into words. "Thank you," she whispered, hugging him. "Thank you so much." 

"No, thank you," Mr.Lee said, patting her back kindly. "For teaching my son how to love again."